Fire detection system diagnostic systems and methods

ABSTRACT

A tool for performing diagnostics on a fire detection system includes an induction coil which includes two halves that may be selectively opened and closed to surround a wire in the system and sense current through the wire. A diagnostic module and a conduit provide communication of data of the sensed current between the induction coil and the diagnostic module. The diagnostic module is configured to decode the data to interpret communications sent through the wire.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/923,034, which was filed on Oct. 18, 2019 and is incorporated hereinby reference.

BACKGROUND

Fire detection systems are known to detect fires within certain areas.As some examples, these areas may include commercial, residential,educational, or governmental buildings.

These systems may include various devices in communication with oneanother through a communication network. Some fire detection systemsinclude control panels and fire detection devices, which monitor theareas for indicators of fire. Periodic diagnostics may be performed onsome systems to test the functionality of the various components.

SUMMARY

A tool for performing diagnostics on a fire detection system, accordingto an example of this disclosure, includes an induction coil whichincludes two halves that may be selectively opened and closed tosurround a wire in the system and sense current through the wire. Thetool includes a diagnostic module. A conduit provides communication ofdata of the sensed current between the induction coil and the diagnosticmodule. The diagnostic module is configured to decode the data tointerpret communications sent through the wire.

In a further example of the foregoing, the two halves are hingeablyconnected.

In a further example of any of the foregoing, each of the two halvesincludes a ferrous core.

In a further example of any of the foregoing, each of the two halvesinclude a plastic enclosure.

In a further example of any of the foregoing, the diagnostic moduleincludes an interface signal processing board for performing thedecoding.

In a further example of any of the foregoing, the interface signalprocessing board is programmed with an algorithm for converting thesensed data into signals from at least one detector of the system.

In a further example of any of the foregoing, the fire detection systemincludes a module in communication with a detector through the wire.

In a further example of any of the foregoing, the wire remains connectedto the module and the detector throughout the method for monitoring.

In a further example of any of the foregoing, the method includesdetecting a dirty detector in the fire detection system based on thedecoded data.

In a further example of any of the foregoing, the method includesdetecting a lack of communication between a device and a panel of thefire detection system based on the decoded data

In a further example of any of the foregoing, the step of surroundingincludes opening the induction coil, placing the wire within an innerdiameter of the induction coil, and closing the induction coil.

In a further example of any of the foregoing, the induction coilincludes two halves.

In a further example of any of the foregoing, the two halves arehingeably connected.

In a further example of any of the foregoing, each of the two halvesinclude a ferrous core.

In a further example of any of the foregoing, each of the two halvesinclude a plastic enclosure.

These and other features may be best understood from the followingspecification and drawings, the following of which is a briefdescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example fire detection system.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example diagnostic tool.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example induction coil of the example diagnostictool of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 illustrates the example tool of FIG. 2 positioned to performdiagnostics on the system of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of a method for monitoring a firedetection system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example fire detection system 10configured to detect a fire in a target area and initiate one or moreresponses based on the detection. In some examples, the target area iswithin a building or other structure.

In the example fire detection system 10 shown, a control panel 12 is incommunication with a first loop 13 of one or more detectors 14 andmodules 18 through a wire 16A. The detectors 14 send signals to thecontrol panel 12 through the wire 16A, and the control panel 12 isprogrammed to make decisions based on the signals. The control panel 12may send commands to the detectors 14 through the wire 16A. In someexamples, the decisions of the control panel 12 may include one or moreof the following: sounding an alarm, posting a trouble condition,displaying a wiring fault, and/or contacting a fire department. Althoughthree detectors 14 are shown in the first loop 13 in the illustrativeexample, more or fewer detectors 14 may be included in some examples.That is, systems with any number of detectors 14 may benefit from thisdisclosure.

In some examples, as shown, a module 18 may be in communication with asecond loop 19 of one or more of the detectors 14 through a wire 16B. Insome examples, the module 18 may receive signals from the detectors 14and communicate outputs to the control panel 12 regarding those signals.In some examples, the module 18 may also be in communication with one ormore external devices (not shown) to the system 10, one example being anHVAC system, and may send commands to those external devices. Althoughone module 18 is shown in the illustrative example, more or fewermodules 18 may be utilized in some examples.

In prior art systems, to perform diagnostics, the wires 16A, 16B wouldbe disconnected from the control panel 12 and/or module 18 and connectedto a diagnostic tool. In some examples, because of this disconnection, auser would place the system in a test mode and power down one or morecomponents in the system before connecting diagnostic tools. In someexamples, a control panel may be in communication with a centralmonitoring station, such that “test mode” would inform the centralmonitoring station that a fault or alarm on the control panel may be dueto a technician performing a test. The central monitoring station maythen decide to either ignore or verify the problem before taking furtheraction, such as notifying the fire department. In some examples,disconnecting one or more wires would result in powering down a loop ofdetectors.

FIG. 2 illustrates a non-invasive diagnostic tool 20 for performingdiagnostics on fire detection systems such as the system 10 shown inFIG. 1 . The diagnostic tool 20 includes an induction coil 22 incommunication with a diagnostic module 24 through a conduit 26. In someexamples, the conduit 26 is rigid. In some examples, the conduit 26 isflexible.

The induction coil 22 forms a ring shape providing an inner diameter 28configured to surround a wire for sensing communications across thewire. The terms “ring” and “diameter” do not necessarily connote arounded or circular shape, as other shapes are contemplated. In someexamples, the communications are sequences of current pulses. Theinduction coil 22 communicates the sensed information to the diagnosticmodule 24 through the conduit 26. In some examples, the induction coil22 and the conduit 26 form an attachment portion 30 that may beintegrated with existing diagnostic modules.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example induction coil 22. Two halves 34A and 34Bare connectable to form the inner diameter 28 that surrounds a monitoredwire (not shown). In some examples, as shown, the halves 34A and 34B maybe selectively opened and closed through a hinge connection 36 and latch38. A person of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of thisdisclosure would recognize that other connection types may be utilized.In some examples, the halves 34A and 34B may include ferrous coreinteriors and plastic enclosures. One of the halves 34A, 34B may includea number of turns of insulated wire wrapped around the ferrous core, soas to create a transformer-like device. The coil 22 effectively sensesthe current from a monitored wire and creates a current on the wire ofthe transformer-like device. In some examples, this current may then bepassed through a resistor (not shown) to create a voltage that can bemeasured.

FIG. 4 illustrates the example tool 20 of FIGS. 2 and 3 positioned toperform diagnostics on the system 10 of FIG. 1 . In the example shown,the induction coil 22 surrounds the wire 16A for sensing communicationsbetween the panel 12 and the first loop 13 of detectors 14 (shownschematically) through the wire 16A. The sensed data may then becommunicated from the induction coil 22 to the diagnostic module 24through the conduit 26. The diagnostic module 24 is configured to decodethe sensed data to interpret the communications being sent through thewire 16A.

In some examples, the diagnostic module 24 is programmed with analgorithm to decode the sensed data. In some examples, the module 24includes an interface signal processing board 32 for performing thedecoding. In some examples, the algorithm can convert current and/orvoltage readings into control panel 12 commands and/or detector 14signals and responses. In some examples, the commands, signals, andresponses can then be used by standard diagnostic tools to troubleshoota problem. In some examples, data may be saved to a file for analysisafter completion of the data collection. In some examples, the decodeddata may show one or more of: lack of communication with the controlpanel 12 (such as through a disconnect in the circuitry in the system,in some examples), dirty detectors 14 (such as dust, insects, or otherdebris within a chamber of a detector 14 that requires cleaning, in someexamples), bad contacts (such as due to corrosion or moisture in thecontacts between the loop 13 and the panel 12 or the loop 19 and themodule 18, in some examples),

Although the example in FIG. 4 shows the diagnostic tool 20 being usedon the wire 16A, the diagnostic tool 20 may also be used on the wire 16B(see FIG. 1 ) for listening to communications between the module 18 andthe second loop 19 of detectors 14. In some examples, the detector 14 onthe second loop 19 transmit a “clean me” current signal to the module 18when the detector 14 is in need of cleaning. The diagnostic tool 20 maybe configured to interpret the “clean me” signal without disconnectionof the wires 16A/16B.

Due to the configuration of the induction coil 22, the tool 20 canlisten to communications through the wires 16A, 16B withoutdisconnecting the wires, changing the system 10 to test mode, or powercycling the control panel 12, detectors 14, or module 18. Although oneexample configuration of the induction coil 22 that allows for selectiveopening and closing the induction coil 22 is disclosed for inductivecoupling to the wire, a person of ordinary skill in the art having thebenefit of this disclosure would recognize that other configurations maybe utilized.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4 , FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of anexample method 100 for monitoring a fire detection system, such as thefire detection system 10 shown in FIG. 1 , for example. At 102, themethod 100 includes surrounding a wire of the system with an inductioncoil. At 104, the method 100 includes sensing current in the wire withthe induction coil. At 106, the method 100 includes communicating dataof the sensed current from the induction coil to a diagnostic tool. At108, the method includes decoding the data to interpret communicationssent through the wire.

In some examples, the method 100 may include that the communications arecommands from a control panel of the fire detection system. In someexamples, the method 100 may include that the communications areresponses from a detector of the fire detection system. In someexamples, the step of encircling does not include disconnection of thewire from the system. In some examples, the wire remains connected tothe panel and the detector throughout the method for monitoring. In someexamples, the method 100 may include detecting a dirty detector in thefire detection system based on the decoded data. In some examples, themethod 100 may include detecting a lack of communication between adevice and a panel of the fire detection system based on the decodeddata.

Although the different examples are illustrated as having specificcomponents, the examples of this disclosure are not limited to thoseparticular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components orfeatures from any of the embodiments in combination with features orcomponents from any of the other embodiments.

The foregoing description shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin any limiting sense. A worker of ordinary skill in the art wouldunderstand that certain modifications could come within the scope ofthis disclosure. For these reasons, the following claims should bestudied to determine the true scope and content of this disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for monitoring a fire detection system,the method comprising: surrounding a wire of the system with aninduction coil; sensing current in the wire with the induction coil;communicating data of the sensed current from the induction coil to adiagnostic tool; and decoding the data to interpret communications sentthrough the wire, wherein the communications are commands from a panelof the fire detection system or are responses from a detector of thefire detection system.
 2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein thecommunications are commands from the panel.
 3. The method as recited inclaim 1, wherein the communications are responses from the detector. 4.The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of surroundingcomprises maintaining a connection of the wire with the system.
 5. Themethod as recited in claim 1, wherein the fire detection systemcomprises a panel and a detector in communication through the wire. 6.The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the wire remains connected tothe panel and the detector throughout the method for monitoring.
 7. Themethod as recited in claim 1, wherein the fire detection systemcomprises a module in communication with a detector through the wire. 8.The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the wire remains connected tothe module and the detector throughout the method for monitoring.
 9. Themethod as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of surrounding comprisesopening the induction coil, placing the wire within an inner diameter ofthe induction coil, and closing the induction coil.
 10. The method asrecited in claim 9, wherein the induction coil comprises two halves. 11.The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the two halves are hingeablyconnected.
 12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein each of thetwo halves comprises a ferrous core.
 13. The method as recited in claim12, wherein each of the two halves comprises a plastic enclosure.
 14. Amethod for monitoring a fire detection system, the method comprising:surrounding a wire of the system with an induction coil; sensing currentin the wire with the induction coil; communicating data of the sensedcurrent from the induction coil to a diagnostic tool; decoding the datato interpret communications sent through the wire; and detecting a dirtydetector in the fire detection system based on the decoded data.
 15. Amethod for monitoring a fire detection system, the method comprising:surrounding a wire of the system with an induction coil; sensing currentin the wire with the induction coil; communicating data of the sensedcurrent from the induction coil to a diagnostic tool; decoding the datato interpret communications sent through the wire; and detecting a lackof communication between a device and a panel of the fire detectionsystem based on the decoded data.